Navigating the NCAA Eligibility Center can be a difficult process for any prospective student- athlete.The majority of high school student-athletes are unaware of the minimum core course requirements to participate in competition beyond their senior year of high school. This session will decipher registering with the NCAA Eligibility Center, determining core- course requirements and calculating core-course GPA’s.This session will also provide tools to high school counselors and admission representatives to assist prospective student- athletes in navigating the NCAA Eligibility Center.
2. General Overview
NCAA Eligibility Center
Division III academic eligibility
requirements
Division II academic eligibility
requirements
Division I academic eligibility
requirements
Recruitment Strategies
3. NCAA Eligibility Center
Formerly known as the NCAA Initial-Eligibility
Clearinghouse.
Responsible for all initial-eligibility
certifications for prospective student-athletes
entering Division I and II institutions.
Initial-eligibility certification includes an
academic AND amateur certification.
Determines whether the prospect is eligible for
practice, competition and athletics aid his/her
first year of college.
4. NCAA Eligibility Center
Registration process
Any student who wants to participate in
Division I or II athletics must register with
the Eligibility Center.
Students are encouraged to register after
their junior year in high school.
There is no deadline to register; however, a
student must be registered before:
○ He/she can make an official visit to a DI or DII
institution.
○ He/she can receive an offer of athletics aid at a
DI or DII institution.
5. NCAA Eligibility Center
Step #1: Students must complete the
online Student Release Form (SRF).
Website: www.ncaaeligibilitycenter.org
One-time registration fee
○ $50 for domestic students
○ $75 for international students
Fee waiver: Available to students who
received a waiver of the ACT or SAT fee.
7. NCAA Eligibility Center
Step #2: High school must send an official
transcript directly to the Eligibility Center.
Transcript should be mailed in a sealed
envelope marked with the school’s
information.
Transcripts cannot be faxed or submitted
online.
A student who attends multiple high schools
must submit an official transcript to the
Eligibility Center from each high school.
Transcripts can come directly from each
school or from the high school from which
the student is graduating.
8. NCAA Eligibility Center
Step #3: Test scores (ACT, SAT) must be
sent directly to the Eligibility Center
from the testing agency.
Test scores on official high school transcript
will not be accepted.
Eligibility Center code is 9999.
9. NCAA Eligibility Center
Step #4: Complete the online
amateurism questionnaire.
Students must request final certification
during senior year (Apr. 1 for fall
enrollees).
Effective Aug. 1, 2010: Student must
complete the amateurism certification
questionnaire before he/she may receive
a written offer of athletically related
financial aid.
10. NCAA Eligibility Center
Step #5: Upon graduation, students
must have a final official high school
transcript sent to the Eligibility Center.
Transcript must show graduation date.
Again, your High School must submit your
transcript directly to the Eligibility Center.
11. NCAA Eligibility Center
Contact Information
NCAA Eligibility Center
PO Box 7136
Indianapolis, IN 46207-7136
Website: www.ncaaeligibilitycenter.org
Customer Service Hours: 8:30 a.m.- 6 p.m.
Monday-Friday
U.S. Callers (Toll-Free): 877.262.1492
International Callers (Toll-Free): 317.223.0700
Fax Number: 317.968.5100
13. Divisions III Academic Eligibility
Requirements
Division III certification status
Division III does not use the NCAA Eligibility
Center. Students should contact the Division III
College or University regarding its policies on
admission, financial aid, practice and
competition.
15. Division II Academic Eligibility
Requirements
Division II academic eligibility requirements
Graduate from high school
Complete 14 core courses
Earn a minimum 2.00 GPA in core courses
Earn a minimum 820 SAT or 68 ACT
Division II certification status
Qualifier vs. Partial Qualifier vs. Nonqualifier
Early academic certification
16. Division II Academic Eligibility
Requirements
#1: Graduate from high 3 years of English
school. 2 years of Math (Algebra I or
#2: Complete 14 core courses. higher)
All core courses must be 2 years of Natural or Physical
completed before full-time Science (including 1 year of
enrollment may be used lab if offered by H.S.)
by the Eligibility Center. 2 extra years of English, Math,
#3: Earn a 2.00 GPA in core Natural/Physical Science
courses. 2 years of Social Science
#4: Earn a combined SAT
score of 820 or ACT sum 3 years of additional
score of 68. There is no coursework from any category
sliding scale in DII. above or Foreign Language,
non-doctrinal Religion or
Philosophy
17. Division II Academic Eligibility
Requirements
Beginning August 1, 2013 3 years of English
the core course 2 years of Math (Algebra I or
requirement will increase higher)
from 14 to 16. 2 years of Natural or Physical
Science (including 1 year of lab if
offered by h.s.)
3 extra years of English, Math,
Natural/Physical Science
2 years of Social Science
4 years of additional coursework
from any category above or foreign
language, non-doctrinal religion or
philosophy
18. Division II Academic Eligibility
Requirements
Division II certification status
QUALIFIER
○ Meets the academic requirements (high school
graduation, 14 core courses, GPA, test score).
○ Can practice, compete and receive athletics aid
during first year of college.
○ Has four seasons of eligibility, provided student
maintains eligibility from year to year.
19. Division II Academic Eligibility
Requirements
Division II certification status
PARTIAL QUALIFIER
○ Does not meet all the academic requirements, but
has graduated from high school AND meets one of
the following:
Combined SAT score of 820 or ACT sum score of 68;
OR
Completion of 14 core courses with a core course
2.00 GPA.
○ Can practice and receive athletics aid during first
year of enrollment. Cannot compete during first
year.
○ Has four seasons of eligibility remaining, provided
student maintains eligibility from year to year.
20. Division II Academic Eligibility
Requirements
Division II certification status
NON-QUALIFIER
○ Does not graduate from high school, or, if the
student graduated and is missing both the core
courses GPA or minimum number of core courses
and the required ACT or SAT scores.
○ Cannot practice, compete or receive athletics aid
during the first year of enrollment. Student can
receive need-based financial aid.
○ Has four seasons of eligibility remaining, provided
student maintains eligibility from year to year.
21. Division II Academic Eligibility
Requirements
Division II certification status
Early Academic Certification
○ A student will be certified as a qualifier,
provided he/she has achieved the following
academic criteria:
Earned a minimum combined score on the SAT of
1000 or a minimum sum score on the ACT of 85; and
Earned a core-course 3.00 GPA or higher in a
minimum of 12 core courses upon completion of 6
semesters. The 12 core courses must include the
following: 3 English, 2 math, 2 natural/physical
science and 5 additional courses.
23. Division I Academic Eligibility
Requirements
Division I academic eligibility
requirements
Graduate from high school
Complete 16 core courses
Earn a minimum GPA in the 16 core
courses
○ Calculating core course GPA
Earn a minimum SAT and/or ACT score
Division I certification status
Qualifier vs. Non-qualifier
Early academic certification
24. Division I Academic Eligibility
Requirements
#1: Graduate from high school
A student must graduate from high school no
later than the high school graduation date of
his/her ninth grade class.
If the student graduates in eight semesters,
he/she may use up to one core course
completed in the year after graduation
(summer or academic year) to meet eligibility
requirements.
○ The student may complete the course at a
location other than the high school from which
he/she graduated.
25. Division I Academic Eligibility
Requirements
#2: Complete 16 core 4 years of English
courses 3 years of Math (Algebra I or
Only courses higher)
completed in grades 2 years of Natural or Physical
9-12 will count. Science (including 1 year of lab
High school’s list of science if offered by the H.S.)
approved core 1 extra year of English, Math or
courses (48H) is Natural/Physical Science
available on the
2 years of Social Science
Eligibility Center’s
website. 4 years of additional coursework
from any category above or
Foreign Language, non-doctrinal
Religion or Philosophy
26. Division I Academic Eligibility
Requirements
Division I Academic Eligibility Requirements
High school’s list of approved core courses (48H)
27. Division I Academic Eligibility
Requirements
#3: Earn a minimum GPA in the 16 core
courses
Calculating core course GPA
Only the best grades will be used.
Credit is based on high school’s grading
system:
○ 1 quarter = 0.25 units
○ 1 trimester = 0.33 units
○ 1 semester = 0.50 units
○ 1 year = 1.0 unit
28. Division I Academic Eligibility
Requirements
Calculating core course GPA
The following values (quality points) are assigned
to each letter grade:
○ A = 4 points
○ B = 3 points
○ C = 2 points
○ D = 1 point
Plus and minus grades are not used when
calculating GPA. [“B” and “B+” are each worth 3
quality points.]
Numeric grades will be changed to a letter grade.
If a high school normally weights honors or
advanced courses, the high school must notify
the Eligibility Center of such weighting.
29. Division I Academic Eligibility
Requirements
Calculating core course GPA
To obtain a student’s core course GPA:
○ List the courses, grades and credits on eligibility
worksheet. Only include courses on the high school’s
list of approved core courses.
○ Determine the quality points for each course.
○ Multiply the quality points for the grade by the
amount of credit earned.
○ Divide the total number of quality points for ALL
core courses by the total number of the core course
units completed.
30. Course Title Grade Points x Units Quality Course Title Grade Points x Units Quality
Pts Pts
English Additional Courses (4.0)
(4.0))
World C 2 1.0 2
Eng. 9 A 4 1.0 4 History
Eng. 10 B 3 1.0 3 Spanish 1 A 4 1.0 4
Eng. 11 A 4 1.0 4 Spanish 2 B 3 1.0 3
Eng. 12 A 4 1.0 4 Physics B 3 1.0 3
Total 4.0 15.0 Total 4.0 12.0
Math (3.0) Subtotal 16.0 50
Algebra B 3 1.0 3
Geometry C 2 1.0 2
To calculate the core-course
Algebra 2 B 3 1.0 3
GPA, divide the total number of
Total 3.0 8.0
quality points by the total
Natural/Physical Science (2.0)
number of units completed.
Biology A 4 1.0 4
Chemistry B 3 1.0 3
Example:
Total 2.0 7.0
Core courses: 16
English/Math/Natural/Physical Science
(1.0) Quality points: 50
Speech C 2 1.0 2
Total 1.0 2.0 GPA = 50 QP/16 core courses =
Social Science (2.0) 3.125 GPA
US History B 3 1.0 3
Government A 4 0.5 2
Economics C 2 0.5 1
31. Division I Academic Eligibility
Requirements
#4: Earn a combined SAT or ACT sum
score that matches the core course GPA
and test score sliding scale
Students must achieve the required test
score (based on a sliding scale) Before full-
time collegiate enrollment.
The required SAT or ACT score must be
achieved under national testing conditions
on a national testing date. A state
administered ACT may be used to meet the
test score requirement.
32. Division I Academic Eligibility
Requirements
Test scores are calculated by adding up
each sub score.
ACT: Math, Science, English, Reading
SAT: Math, Verbal/Critical Reading
The writing component of the ACT and SAT
will not be used to determine a student’s
initial eligibility certification.
○ Note: Collegiate institutions may or may not
require the writing component. Students are
encouraged to take the writing portion of the
ACT/SAT.
33. Division I Academic Eligibility
Requirements
Tests may be taken more than one time.
If a student takes either test more than once,
the Eligibility Center will use the best sub
score from each test to meet the minimum
test score requirement.
Math Critical Total Score
Reading
SAT (10/6/07) 350 470 820
SAT (12/1/07) 420 440 860
Scores Used 420 470 890
34. Division I Academic Eligibility
Requirements
ACT and SAT score requirements
ALL SAT and ACT scores must be reported to
the Eligibility Center directly from the testing
agency.
Test scores will not be accepted if reported to
the Eligibility Center on a high school
transcript.
Eligibility Center Code: 9999
35. Division I Academic Eligibility
Requirements
National Testing Dates
SAT ACT
October 9, 2010 September 11, 2010
November 11, 2010 October 23, 2010
December 4, 2010 December 11, 2010
January 22, 2011 February 12, 2011
March 12, 2011 April 9, 2011
May 7, 2011 June 11, 2011
June 4, 2011
sat.collegeboard.com www.actstudent.org
36. Division I Academic Eligibility
Requirements
Division I Core GPA and Test Score Sliding
Scale GPA
Core SAT ACT
3.550 & above 400 37
3.525 410 38
3.500 420 39
3.475 430 40
--- --- ---
2.025 1000 85
2.000 1010 86
37. Division I Academic Eligibility
Requirements
Division I certification status
QUALIFIER
○ Meets the academic requirements (high school
graduation, 16 core courses, GPA/test score
requirement).
○ May practice, compete and receive athletics aid
first year of college.
○ Has four seasons of eligibility, provided student
maintains eligibility year to year.
○ Example: Student completed 16 core courses
with a core GPA of 2.900 and a SAT score of 675.
[2.900 GPA = SAT 660 or ACT 54]
38. Division I Academic Eligibility
Requirements
Division I certification status
NON-QUALIFIER
○ Does not meet one or more of the academic
requirements (high school graduation, 16 core
courses, GPA/test score requirement).
○ May not practice, compete or receive athletics
aid first year of college (student may receive
need-based financial aid).
○ Has three seasons of eligibility remaining. May
earn a fourth season provided student meets
NCAA progress toward degree requirements.
○ Example: Student completed 16 core courses
with a 2.725 GPA and ACT score of 56. [2.725
GPA = SAT 730 or ACT 59]
39. Division I Academic Eligibility
Requirements
Division I certification status
NON-QUALIFIER
○ A non-qualifier has two options regarding
Division I eligibility:
#1: Serve a year in residency at the DI
institution (no athletics aid, practice or
competition). Eligible for athletics aid, practice
and competition second year of enrollment,
provided student meets institutional,
conference and NCAA academic requirements.
40. Division I Academic Eligibility
Requirements
Division I certification status
NON-QUALIFIER
#2: Enroll in a two-year college. To be immediately
eligible for athletics aid, practice and competition
upon transfer to a DI institution, student must
earn AA degree, complete 48/72 hours of
transferable degree credit with a 2.00 GPA and
complete a minimum of 3 semester/4 quarters
(summers excluded) at the two-year college.
- Effective August 1, 2009: 2-4 transfers must
complete 6 sem/8 qtr hours of transferable
English credit and 3 sem/4 qtr hours of
transferable Math credit.
41. Division I Academic
Eligibility Requirements
Division I certification status
Early Academic Certification
○ A student will be certified as a qualifier,
provided he/she has achieved the
following academic criteria:
Earned a minimum combined score on the SAT
of 1000 or a minimum sum score on the ACT of
85; and
Earned a core-course 3.00 GPA or higher in a
minimum of 13 core courses upon completion
of 6 semesters. The 13 core courses must
include the following: 3 English, 2 Math, 2
Natural or Physical Science and 6 additional
courses.
42. Division I Academic Eligibility
Requirements
Students with education impacting
disabilities
A student with a disability must meet the same
academic requirements (e.g., high school graduation,
core course, test score) as all other students.
A student must graduate from high school no later
than the high school graduation date of his/her ninth
grade class.
If the student graduates in eight semesters, he/she
may use up to three core course completed in the year
after graduation (summer or academic year) to meet
eligibility requirements.
○ The student may complete the course at a location
other than the high school from which he/she
graduated.
43. Division I Academic Eligibility
Requirements
Students with education impacting
disabilities
A student with a disability may receive the following
accommodations:
○ Use courses for students with disabilities that are
designated on the high school’s list of approved core
courses.
○ Use approved core courses taken before the student
enrolls in college (including courses taken the summer
after high school graduation).
○ Take a nonstandard ACT/SAT on a date other than a
national testing date.
44. Summary – Eligibility
All students planning to participate in Division
I or II athletics as a freshman must register
with the NCAA Eligibility Center.
Students must receive both an academic AND
amateurism certification.
Division I: High school graduation, 16 core
courses, core GPA/test score sliding scale.
Division II: High school graduation, 14 core
courses, 2.00 core GPA, 820 SAT or 68 ACT
Division III: Students are not certified by
Eligibility Center.
46. Division III Recruiting
No limitations on the number of telephone
calls beginning with PSA’s freshman year
No limitations on printed recruiting materials
Off-campus contact can occur after
conclusion of the PSA’s junior year
Official visits can be made after the PSA’s
first day of classes in senior year
48. Division II Recruiting
Rules are the same for all sports
Recruiting materials may be sent via regular or
electronic mail beginning September 1 of PSA’s
junior year
Off-campus contact can be made starting June 15
after PSA’s junior year (no more than 3 off-campus
contacts per PSA)
Telephone calls can be made once per week
starting June 15 prior to PSA’s senior year
Official visits can be made after the PSA’s first day
of classes in senior year
50. Division I Recruiting
When, how often, and through what
methods prospective student-athletes can
be contacted depends on the sport
Prospective student-athletes (PSA) cannot
be called, texted, or e-mailed until after
their sophomore year in high school
For sports other than men’s basketball and
men’s and women’s ice hockey, phone calls
cannot be placed until after the PSA’s junior
year
51. Division I Recruiting
Campus Visits
Unofficial Visits
PSA receives no expenses (meals, travel,
lodging) from the university
No limit on the number of unofficial visits
Official Visits
University pays some or all of PSA’s expenses
relating to the visit
PSA limited to one official visit per institution and
a total of 5 official visits to Division I schools
52. Student Athlete’s
High School Four-Year Plan
Freshman Year
Talk to your counselor about classes
Establish good study habits
Attend sport camps
Start to think about classes and subjects you like
Work with your coach on continuous improvements
53. Student Athlete’s
High School Four-Year Plan
Sophomore Year
Keep your grades up
Talk with your coach about ability and ambitions
Make preliminary inquiries about colleges that interest
you
Take the PLAN Test
Start to visit schools while you are at tournaments
54. Student Athlete’s
High School Four-Year Plan
Junior Year
Keep up your grades.
Talk with your coach about a realistic assessment of which college
level you can play.
Take the PSAT and ACT.
Log on to the NCAA Eligibility Center.
Start looking at colleges. Think about what you want in a college.
Think about what you want to study.
Attend a “College Night”
55. Student Athlete’s
High School Four-Year Plan
Senior Year
Attend schools “College Night”.
Narrow your college choices down.
Visit Schools.
First semester – apply to colleges through the their Office of
Admissions.
Take the ACT/SAT again if needed.
Make your list of extra-curricular activities.
Pay attention to deadlines.
January- File your FAFSA (Preferred deadline – March 1st).
56. Helpful Information
Eligibility Center website:
www.ncaaeligibilitycenter.org
NCAA website: www.ncaa.org
Guide for the College-Bound
Student-Athlete (Spanish version
is also available)
Transfer Guide for Divisions
I/II/III
57. Contact Information
Ryan P. Downey – Assistant Director of
Admissions
Phone: (618) 650-2679
E-mail: rydowne@siue.edu
Katie Zingg – Lead Compliance Specialist
Phone: (618) 650-5475
E-mail: kzingg@siue.edu